Kili returned to the Dwarves' impromptu base of operations. Fili had remained on the south entrance of Dale to keep watch on the Elves, to ensure they honored the truce. Kili had not wanted to leave Fili's side, but Fili insisted that Kili go back to eat and rest.

Rhavaniel was sitting on a bench, sharing a jar of honey with Bilbo and a few of the less suspicious Dwarves. Her bandaged foot was propped up.

"We have a bit of time, thanks to your idea." Kili told her as he joined her on the bench, eager to enjoy some cram with their bilberry jam.

"You have met everyone now?" he asked.

"Yes." Rhavaniel said, "Except for the large scowling one over there." and she nodded toward Dwalin.

"Dwalin. Let's wait on that." Kili frowned "He does not look ready to apologize, and I expect nothing less."

"Have you not spoken to him yourself?" Rhavaniel asked with concern. "Everyone else has had a chance to see you and tell you how happy they are that you are back. Please do not exclude Mister Dwalin on my account. He need not apologize. Worse things happen in the confusion of battle, I am sure. Nori said he nearly decapitated you this very morning."

"And Nori apologized." Kili countered.

"Rhavaniel is right, Kili." Bilbo said gently. "Dwalin took it very hard when they thought you were gone forever."

"I will speak to him after lunch." Kili agreed grudgingly.

"What do all of those tattoos mean?" Rhavaniel asked. "Is he of a different tribe of Dwarves, that his skin is marked?"

Kili smiled, "No, Dwalin is Longbeard like the rest of us. He has fought for my family his whole life, and when we Heirs of Durin are not at war, he has been a sword for hire. Warriors of such devotion like to mark themselves after each battle. It tells their story, and honors fallen friends. Uncle Thorin has tattoos as well, just not on his face."

"I expect to get a tattoo after this quest." Ori offered. "I am already sketching a few design ideas." and he pulled out his scrolls to show them.

Kili laughed, "We will probably all get that tattoo of Smaug! You have good ideas, Ori."

"Does that not hurt?" Rhavaniel asked with concern.

"That big one across the chest looks painful." said Bilbo, as he and Rhavaniel looked on wincingly.

"Do Elves tattoo themselves?" Ori asked.

"No." Rhavaniel said. "But the Avari tribes pierce their ears, starting when they are little ones in their twenties . I want to have mine pierced but my Silvan family insists I must wait until I am fifty. I already have some lovely ear trinkets saved in anticipation."

"I do not like that idea!" Kili said. "Your ears are too pretty to mar on purpose."

"Maybe I do not like the idea of you getting a tattoo." she replied archly.

Kili harrumphed. This conversation was drawing curious looks from his companions. Thorin was approaching them, and Kili feared that the uninhibited Rhavaniel might actually ask to see his tattoos. That would not go over well.

Óin spoke up, "I have not looked at you properly, Kili. Were you even scratched by those poisoned arrows?"

"No, Óin, I am well." happy for the change of subject, Kili wolfed down another bite of food, and took off his coat. The bandages on his back were itching. Kili was a rare Dwarf, with arms long enough to reach his back, and he scratched at them.

Rhavaniel gently scolded him, "Do not disturb the strips! They will fall off on their own in a few more days."

Thorin took note, "What is this she speaks of?"

Kili was evasive, "Just a few scratches." and began to put his coat back on.

Thorin pulled up his nephew's shirt tail, to reveal the whip marks on his back. They crisscrossed all the way up to his shoulders.

"Who did this to you?" Thorin demanded.

Kili looked down, "The Orcs that were not Azog's caught me. I made a foolish mistake. I told Rhavaniel to go look for water instead of stand watch, and they took me by surprise. It won't happen again."

Rhavaniel turned to Óin, "He lost a frightening amount of blood, but the miruvor helped." The Dwarves were all silent, upset, and angry. She had the disturbing feeling that some of them were angry at her, and she wished she could shrink out of their sight.

Thorin despaired that Kili felt so ashamed, when it was Thorin who had failed to protect the boy. He was concerned that Kili had tried to hide this - and perhaps other crucial details - of what happened to him. 'This secrecy is the influence of the Elf, no doubt.' he thought.

Thorin wanted to question him further, but realized Kili must be tired and hungry.

"I want you to eat and rest. Half of us will sleep now, including you. We will talk when you wake. Her too." and Thorin pointed to Rhavaniel.

Kili and Rhavaniel looked at each other awkwardly.

"What is the problem?" Thorin snapped at them, "Sleep in the shade over there, where the rest of us can keep an eye on you."

Kili replied hesitantly. "We only have the one bedroll between us."

Thorin's face turned red.

Rhavaniel broke the rule of waiting to be spoken to and said nonchalantly, "We took turns standing watch and sleeping. One bedroll was certainly enough until now."

Kili was grateful that one of them had the survival skill of lying on the spot.

Thorin did not look as satisfied as they had hoped he would be with this explanation. He grabbed the Elf bedroll and threw it at Rhavaniel.

He told Kili, "We still have a bedroll for you. Ori will fetch it."

Thorin stormed off to look at the Elf activity south of the City for himself, and relieve Fili on watch.

"Opposite ends of the wall!" He warned them as he walked away.

Ori retrieved a bedroll for Kili. The Dwarves split in half, with those most tired and bruised taking the first few hours of afternoon sleep. Several went inside the ruined building for better blocking of the sun. Kili and Rhavaniel saw the look from Dwalin, and realized they would be expected to stay in the open.

They laid down and alongside the building wall, in the shade, and several feet apart.

Rhavaniel whispered. "I think your Uncle does not like me."

Kili had to admit the facts at hand, "He does not like Elves. You have the burden of all the wrongs done to him by Elves on your little shoulders right now. It will be better once he gets to know you."

Rhavaniel had doubts. "Patience and a good heart will earn trust. But I fear that time is not on our side."

Kili hesitated. "I need to ask you - how upset would your people be if you brought a Dwarf home to meet them? Even if they believed nothing happened between us, would they be angry with you?"

Rhavaniel gave the question thought, "They would certainly be angry that I was gone so long. I don't know how they would react to the rest. No one has ever done anything like this, at least not that I was ever told. Have I made your family angry with you? If I have, I am sorry."

Kili sighed out his frustration, "This is not your fault. Dwarves are very conservative, and honor is everything - it is all that we have, most days. If Elves choose to say I stole you away and mistreated you, it would bring shame to my entire family. As head of the family, Uncle Thorin would be expected to put it right. I think he is afraid of what he might be asked to do."

Rhavaniel was aghast, "I will tell them all what happened - that you rescued me and tried to send me home."

"I am not sure the truth matters." Kili warned her. "It seems old wounds want to be reopened."

"What are we going to tell your Uncle later?"

"Everything. Everything except what is private between us. I would not deny you, or how I feel about you, but this is not the time. And don't tell him about what we found in the mere. I don't want him to know I can swim."

"Agreed." she hesitated and then asked tentatively, "Should we tell him I set fire to the Watchtower?"

Kili groaned, "Yes. He will be upset because I was a part of that, but it set so many events in motion."

Kili heard Rhavaniel sobbing. "What is wrong?"

"I had not thought before - if I had not set that fire, Glennodad and Vehiron would not have come looking for the cause. They would not have been caught and tortured, body and soul, until they lost themselves."

"That is not true. Those Orcs were hunting Elves and they would have found some - they had already found some, Rhavaniel, and I should have told you that sooner. We didn't do anything wrong. We did betray anyone. We made a choice to fight for our lives, which is our right. Our fate was to survive, because Ilúvatar had plans for us."

Rhavaniel sniffed, "I know you are right. That does not make it any easier it this very moment."

Kili and Rhavaniel spoke softly for a few more moments, then Kili realized it was Rhavaniel who fell asleep while talking, instead of him. He was relieved - now he could sleep peacefully knowing she was not into some mischief.